Fair Play for Peace
Contributed by Lydia Lester
There are a myriad of issues at the forefront of our collective discourse in the social and political arena. I am writing to express my overarching perspective. Simply put, our United States constitution begins with the precise sentiments I ascribe to:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity do ordain and establish the Constitution for the United States of America.”
The right to express oneself, forge a meaningful and secure life, while taking responsibility for our actions, is inherent for every citizen. Adults who have adhered to the standards of good citizenship while managing the inevitable travails of being a mere mortal need to live in a society that allows space for growth, physical and mental health, respect, expression, and access to ideas, information, and creative interpretation. Just as we have the right to free speech, we should have the right to read and listen to the free speech of others. Public libraries and public radio are friends of the people.
Funding them at a reasonable level and entering into respectful dialog when concerns arise is the way healthy relationships are formed and maintained. Vitriol, which masks fear, anger, and distrust is unnecessary, divisive, immature, and unproductive. People come to their sentiments and perspectives honestly in a dynamic fashion through different experiences. That’s just the way it is. There are a lot of different people in this multifaceted world.
Though outsized efforts to satisfy ego-driven desires often take center stage, it is incumbent on mature adults to modulate these impulses in the name of fair play. Justice has a high standard of principle far more noble than “might makes right” and “my way or the highway” type of play.
I am a constituent who expects our civil servants to uphold the letter and spirit of the constitution. I am aware that all too many in esteemed positions are falling short as role models and standard bearers. I vote for sound citizens who stand for honorable outcomes. This fractured nation is in serious need of restoration through heightened understanding of each other and the dynamics of healthy social norms. Peace is not won through competition; it is earned through courage and integrity. I wish for good will and true peace for everyone.